Israeli Security Opens Fire on a MacBook. Thrice.

Most of us here love our computers and also love to blow things up. Just ask Chris Angelini with his exploits around CPUs and firearms. Things, however, weren't so funny for Lily Sussman, who blogged on her Wordpress account about a run in she had on her way through the Israeli border.

While it's standard practice these days for border patrol to scan through a traveler's luggage, discharging a firearm three times into a bag containing a laptop isn't an action that seems good for security control.

An announcement played over the sound system, interrupting my break in the sunshine. First in Hebrew, then Arabic, then in English. It was something along the lines of, ” do not to be alarmed by gunshots because the Israeli security needs to blow up suspicious passanger luggage.”I went inside to check on my bag. I had left it unattended, where they instructed. It was still there so I went back outside.Moments later a man came outside and introduced himself as the manager on duty. And then, “I’m sorry but we had to blow up your laptop. “What….all my client case notes and testimony, writing, pictures, music and applications. Years of work. NO!!!! What?? Are you insane?? What were you thinking? THAT’S ALL MY WORK!?After much yelling, crying and frantic phone dialing (don’t be alarmed if I called you repeatedly this morning), he took me outside to see the wreckage. It turned out it hadn’t been quite blown up, but rather shot through with three bullets. We were able to extract the hard drive, seemingly unscaved. Thank goodness…

Here are some other pictures of the damage to the Unibody MacBook.

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Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
  • jawshoeaw
    These Israeli PC fanboys went too far.
    Reply
  • Wouldn't just running the luggage through a metal detector instead of pumping it full of lead be a better option?
    Reply
  • customisbetter
    There is literally no reason for that bullsh*t. Firing bullets into a laptop, even containing explosives, will not do ANYTHING.
    Reply
  • Why does a security checkpoint dispose of suspect packages by shooting it three times? How is that going to safely dispose of the bomb? I hope they compensated her, it seems like they did not even ask her any questions about it before going Rambo.
    Reply
  • sublifer
    Why in the world did they shoot it?
    Reply
  • jmchien
    those bullet holes look pretty big...wonder what size firearms are they carrying?...
    Reply
  • jellico
    I'd love to hear the call to Apple support...

    Apple Tech: "Have you tried rebooting the machine?"

    Macbook owner: "Uh, I don't think that's going to help."
    Reply
  • Computer_Lots
    I don't know why it gives me pleasure to see a Macbook with holes in it :)
    Reply
  • Hooooly cow
    Reply
  • falconqc
    Did they compensate her for the damages?

    At least they missed the hard drive...



    Reply